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End of World War II
In May of the same year, Germany surrendered. Shortly after the drop of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese surrendered, and the war ended. However, in the midst of this chaos, Russia declared war on Japan. -
Berlin Blockade
The Soviet Union blocked the Allies' canal and ralirway road access to Berlin. This lasted about eleven months. -
A-Bomb for USSR
Russia tests its first atomic bomb. -
Korean War
The Korean War begins, with Stalin in support of North Korea. -
Warsaw Pact
Eight communist states formed a collective defense treaty. -
Sputnik
The launch of Sputnik began the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. -
Kennedy Election
John F. Kennedy beats Richard Nixon in a race for the presidency. -
Berlin Wall
Construction of the Berlin Wall, which divided the German Democratic Republic from Berlin. -
Strategic Defense Initiative
Proposed by Ronald Reagan and implented to protect against missile attacks by the Soviet Union. -
Glasnost
Gorbachev's attempt to create more openness amongst the people, thus spurring further support of his economic reforms. -
Perestroika
A new restructuring policy implented with the goal of promoting economic and social change. -
Missile Treaty
Reagan and Gorbachev sign a treaty diminishing their nuclear arsenals. -
Destruction of Berlin Wall
The wall begins to be torn down, breaking down the barrier between the German Democratic Republic and Berlin. -
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin elected president of Russia. -
Cold War Ends
Directly following the disbandment of the Soviet Union, the Cold War comes to a close. -
Goodbye Soviet Union
The Soviet Union dissolves by decree, and each of the 12 rebublics becomes independent.
